Article transfer mechanism



May 23, 1944- c. w. scHRElBr-:R 2,349,638

ARTICLE TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed March 3, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet l lll/111111111111 Lil Elmmmnmmwmmmmmmmmm Syvum C. W' chrezlben May 23, 1944- c. w. scHRExBl-:R 2,349,638

' ARTICLE TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed March 3, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. WSC/12 'cibezg wb2/57 May 23, 1944 c. w. scHRx-:IBSR

ARTICLE TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed March 5, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 23, 1944. Q w, sCHRElBE-R 2,349,638

ARTICLE TRANSFR MECHANISM Filed March 3, 1943. 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 23, 1944. c. w. scHREiBl-:R

ARTICLE TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed March 3', 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 man May 23, 1944 c. w. scHRElBr-:R

ARTICLE TRANSFER MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 5, 1943 Patented May 23, 1944 asian ARTICLE TRANSFER MECHANISM Carl W. Schreiber, Toledo, Ohio, assignor,` by mesne assignments, to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 3, 1943, Serial No. 477,846

11 Claims. (C1. 198-210) My invention relates to apparatus adapted for transferring articles from one position to another. The invention in the form herein illustrated is of use in the glass manufacturing art and is particularly adapted for transferring glass articles from one machine or position to another. In the manufacture of glassware, including tumblers and numerous other articles, which are formed by a blowing or molding process, the formed article has attached thereto a moil of waste glass which must be severed therefrom to complete the article, The apparatus herein shown is designed for receiving such articles directly from the forming machine or a take-off device associated therewith, and transferring the articles to a burn-off machine by which the moil is severed. An object of the present invention is to provide a transfer apparatus which may form part of an installation for performing the various operations automatically in place of the hand methods which are commonly employed in manufacturing these lines of ware.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a machine embodying the principles of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan at the line 3-3 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation similar to a portion of Fig. 1, but on a larger scale and viewed in a different direction.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of a pair of article gripping fingers and operating means therefor.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 but showing the gripping fingers in open position.

Fig. '7 is a section at the line 'I--T on Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation at the line 8-8 on Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a section at the line 9 9 on Fig. 5.

Fig. l is a section at the line lil- Ill on Fig. 5.

Fig. 1l is a part sectional plan view of an article supporting cup and associated mechanism.

Fig. l2 is a section at the line I2--i2 on Fig. l1.

Fig. 13 is a section at theline I3--I3 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 14 is a section at the line Ill- I4 on Fig. 4.

Referring particularly to Figs. l to 4 the machine comprises, in general terms, a vertical center column I in the form of a tubular shaft having a fixed mounting in a casting I6 which forms a housing for the driving gearing, a carriage rctated continuously by said gearing about the .mit

axis of the column I5, said carriage including a cup carrying table Il supporting an annular series of transfer cups I8, and a finger table I9 directly over the table I'I and carrying gripping finger units 20 individual to the cup units and each comprising a pair of gripping fingers 2|, 22 for gripping articles supported in the cups `l8 and transferring theml to any desired position, as, for example, to supporting plates 23 (Fig. 2) on a burn-off machine.

The driving mechanism includes a worm drive shaft having a worm 24 running in mesh with a worm gear 25 on an upwardly extending hub which is attached by means of a screw 25u and key 25b to a rotary, tubular shaft 26 surrounding and spaced from the center column I5. The cup table I l is mounted on the upper end of the shaft 2S for rotation therewith and is supported b y a ring 2l which surrounds and is welded to the shaft 25. The table I1 is secured to said ring by bolts 28 (Fig. 4)

The nger table I9 is supported on a ring 3!! to which it may be secured by bolts 3 I. The ring 30 is weldedto a tubular shaft 32 which extends downward within the tubular shaft 26. The shaft 32 is adjustable up and down in the manner hereinafter described, for adjusting the nger table i9 up and down. A key 32a provides a driving connection between the rotating shaft 26 and the shaft 32. Within the shaft 32 is a non-rotatable tubular shaft 33 or sleeve, on which is mounted a cap plate 34 having a hub extension 35 surrounding the reduced upper end portion of the sleeve 33.` The plate 34 is secured by screws 36 to a non-rotatable ring member 3l. Bolted to the latter is a cam plate 38 formed on its underside with a cam track 39 which controls the operation of the gripping fingers as hereinafter described. Roller bearings 4G are interposed between the ring member 31 and the rotary shaft 32. Attached to the upper end of the shaft 32 is a ring 4l which overhangs the bearings G (Fig. 4) and thereby provides a support for the shaft 32 and parts connected thereto.

The finger table I9 and parts surmounting it including the ring member 31, cam plate 38 and cap 34, are adjustable up and down for accommodating work-pieces of dilerent lengths or heights. The adjusting means includes a rod 42 screw threaded through a sleeve 43 (Fig. 4) attached to the upper end of the center column i5. The rod d2 extends through the cap plate 34 and is held against lengthwise movement relative thereto by a collar M and shoulder 45. A thrust bearing 46 is interposed between said shoulder and the cap plate 34. The rod 42 is clamped in its adjusted position by a clamping screw lll. A key 48 provides a spline connection between the sleeve 33 and the center column I5, permitting said vertical adjustment while holding the cam plate 3B and attached parts against rotative movement.

The housing for the worm gearing includes a cover plate 50 bolted to the casting I6 and extended upwardly in the form of a sleeve 5| surrounding the shaft 26. A cam ring 52 surrounds the sleeve 5| and is attached thereto by screws 53. A cam ring 54, surrounding and attachedto the ring 52, is shaped to provide therewith a cam track 55 controlling the movements ofY the tion of the segmental lever 11 is prevented so that the continued upward swinging movement of the arm 78 swings the' segmental lever 13 relative to the lever 11, thereby rocking the arm 59, about its pivot and thus moving the stem 53 I and cup i8 vertically upward, at the same time cups I8 and their operatingv mechanism which.

units which are symmetrically arranged in an annular series. The cups (see'Fig. l) are vshaped. to provide a support for a circular work-piece 55. Each cup comprises a pair of oppositely disposed plates 5l'y provided withlining Vpads 5810i asbestos or the like, providing contact surfaces for the work-piece. The plates 51 `are'secured to a pair of arms 59 (Figs. mounted in a headv $0. A bottom plate 65a for the cup, with a lining Elib of asbestos or the like, is secured by bolts 65C to the head Si); The arms 59 have horizontal portions formed or provided with racks 6l which engage a' pinion v62 journalled on the upper end of arod or stem E3 attached to the head 6i) by a pin 64. The pinion and racks permit adjustment of the armsA toward and from each other, adapting them to articles in ad-.

of dierent diameters andy are clamped justed position by the bolts 65e.

The cup stem 63 'is mounted for-'up and down engages anv opening r'I-l in the stem-63. The armA G9 is formed `with a segmental gear'll which meshes with a gear segment 12 formed on a segmental lever 'i3 which-fulcrums on al pivotpin 'M keyed in the bracket 61. .The housing arm 65. is provided with a segmental gear 'lmeshing with-a gear segment 7,6 formed ona segmental lever 'll which also. fulcrums on' the pivot pin 141. An arm 'i8 pivotedon the pin 74, carries a cam follower roll 'l running on the cam track 55. The arm 1.8, is,rotatively adjustable in the segmental lever '1.3 through an adjusting. pin',v and is clamped Vi-nadjusted position by a clamping screw Sta. levers 'E3 and 'His limited by a stop screw 8l adjustable inthe lever '13 and arranged to engage a stop surface 82 onthe lever 1l. A coil spring 33 is held under compression between .the levers 13 and 1l. i

'The operation ofthe cup swinging andlifting mechanism is as follows:

` Referring to Fig. 1, the cup unit at the left side of the machine, is shown with the armv 65 swung down and the cup with its stem 63 retracted.

It will be noted that the spring 33 is in its ex-` 1l, l2) adjustably.

Relative movement of the segmental compressingthespring 83. The cup I8 is now inits uppermostposition, as shown at the right in Fig. l, to receive a work-piece. As the carriage continues its rotation, the cup may be lowered vertically to bring the work-piece into position to be received and held by the gripping fingers 2l, and 22 which hold the work-piece while the cup is again lowered, first vertically and then swunginward.`

. .The finger units will now be described. These (Figs. 5 to 10) comprises a pair of fingers 2l and 22 which may be provided with a lining 85 of asbestos or the like. The fingers are mounted to swing respectively about pivot pins 86 and-81. The pivot pins are mounted in a housing member 88 which is. attached bysorews 89 to a support in the form of -a casting Si). The latter is mounted to swing. aboutthe `axis of apivot bolt Si which extends. through an opening in the rim of` the table. i9 (Figs. 8 and 9). and isiclamped therein by a-nut` 92g .The pivot bolt-extends through a verticalcylindrical bore 93 i`n the castingand is centered therein by upper and lower collars. 95. and. Thecasting Stand the housing S8 securedthereto, together form an'armV or unit. which oseillates. about the pivot 5i as will presently be described. `',Ihe pivot pin B6 for` the finger 2l, is extended upward and carries a cam follower roll 5'! which runs in the cam. track.

with the ,segment` 98' onthe iinger 22... The ,pis-

tonis moved inwardly by air pressure supplied in front of thebiston for swinging the lingers to position for gripping the work-piece. The piston is moved outwardlyl to Tseparate the fingers by means of` acoil compression spring H12. whichy is housed in a central openingin the piston. i

The air systemwfor supplying air pressureto the piston motors will now be described. Referring to .Figs` l and 4, the ring member 31,is formed with an annular channel |03v in its lower face, the side walls HM of said channel being in the form of annular iianges which extend downwardly into grooves formed in the upper face of the finger table I9. Packing material HB5` in said' grooves pro-vides a seal by which `leakage of air from the channel |83 is prevented. Within the channel` m3 isa segmental bar I which seats onthe upper face of the. finger plate I9, and as shown in Fig. 3 extends approximately three-fourths the circumference of the channel.`

Air lines individual to the piston motors, each comprises a conduit or port |91 extending downward through lthe table I9 and connected by an elbow with the inner end of a pipe |08, theouter end of which opens into a port |99 (Fig. 9) which communicates with a central bore in the pivot 9|. 'The air line is continued through a port I I to bore 93. A passageway I II (Figs. 5, 'l and 8) extends through the wall of the motor cylinder and opens into the latter at a port ||2 in front of the motor piston.

The ring segment |06 is formed in its lower face with a groove or channel I I3 (Fig. 4) which, as shown in dotted lines (Fig. 3), extends throughout the greater part of the length of said segment. Said channel is open to atmosphere through a vent H4. Air under pressure is supplied to the distributing chamber or channel |03 through a pipe I I5Y (Figi) connected to a source of air pressure supply. As the finger table I9 rotates, the ports IIJ'I therein are carried in succession from beneath segment |06, thereby opening the air pressure lines in succession to their respective motors. As air pressure is thus supplied to a motor through its port II2 (Fig. 5), the piston is moved inwardly and thereby swings the fingers to article gripping position. This position is maintained until the corresponding port |21 passes from beneath the segment |06, thereby cutting off the air pressure supply and opening the port |01 to the channel |I3. This relieves the pressure in the motor cylinder so that the compression spring |92 moves the piston outwardly and swings the gripping fingers to open position.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

As the carriagerotates and advances a holding cup I8 from the position shown at the right in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 in which the cup is in its uppermost position, a workpiece 55 vis placed automatically in the cup as the latter passes the transfer position indicated by radial line |29 (Fig. 2). When position |2| is reached, the cup commences to move vertically downward under the control of cam track 55. This movement continues until the cup reaches an intermediate position (at line |22) in which the work-piece is on a level with the gripping fingers, such level being then maintained until the work-piece has been gripped by said fingers. At position |23 the finger carrier 88, 9i) (Fig. 3) commences to swing outwardly about the pivot 9|, under con trol of an operating section 39a (Fig. 2) of the cam track 39. This movement is completed by the time position |24 is reached. Following this the air pressure line is opened (at line |25) to the piston motor by the port |01 running from under the segment IE6, so that the motor operates the fingers to grip the work-piece. As shown in Fig. 1 the iingers grip the upper portion of the work-piece, namely, the moil which is to be severed at the line |26 from the molded article.

The article being now held by the gripping fingers, the cup I8 resumes its downward movement when radial position |21 is reached. When this vertical downward movement is completed, the arm 65 (Fig. 4) starts its downward and inward swinging movement which is completed by the time position |28 (Fig. 2) is reached. The cup I 8 is now beneath the table I'I as shown at the left in Fig. l and the work-piece supported in the gripping fingers. The work-piece continues to advance horizontally until it reaches the transfer position |29 in which it is directly over a bottom supporting plate 23 on the burnoff machine. At this point the port IU'I is again brought beneath the ring segment IUS, thereby closing the air pressure line to the piston motor and venting the latter to the atmosphere. The motor is thus reversed so that the gripping iingers are separated, leaving the work-piece supported on the plate 23. The cam section 39b (Fig. 2) of'the cam track 39, now operates to swing finger carrier 88, inwardly. Before the cup I8 completes its rotation with the carriage, it is again swung up and moved vertically to its uppermost position, thereby completing the cycle.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

l. An article transfer mechanism Comprising a carriage, means for rotating it about a vertical axis, an article holder and an article gripping device mounted on the carriage for rotation therewith, automatic means for actuating the gripping device during the rotation of the car' riage and causing it to grip an article supported on the holder, and means for withdrawing the holder vertically downward,l leaving the article supported by the gripping device, and then swinging said holder inwardly toward the axis of the carriage.

2. An article transfer mechanism comprising a carriage, means for rotating it about a vertical axis, a rock arm pivotally mounted on the carriage to swing downwardly and inwardly from a horizontal position in which it extends outwardly from its pivot in a direction radial to the carriage, an article holder slidably mounted on said arm for vertical movement when the arm is in its horizontal position, and automatic means operable during the rotation of the carriage to move said holder downward on said arm and thereafter to swing said arm with the holder thereon downward about its pivot.

3. An article transfer mechanism comprising a carriage, means for rotating it about a vertical axis, a rock arm pivotally mounted on the car-v riage to swing downwardly and inwardly from a horizontal position in which it extends outwardly from its pivot in a direction radial to the carriage, an article holder slidably mounted on said arm for vertical movement when the arm is in its horizontal position, a stationary cam, and means providing operating connections between the can*A and the said rock arm and holder for moving the holder downward on the arm and thereafter swinging the arm and holder downward.

4. An article transfer mechanism comprising a carriage, means for rotating it about a vertica axis, an arm extending radially of the carriage and pivoted at its inner end on the carriage, ar article holder slidably mounted for up and dowr movement on said arm, a second arm pivoted t( swing about the axis of said first mentioned arm a stationary cam, and means providing operating connections between the cam and said arm.I for swinging said second arm about its pivot an: thereby moving the said holder downward an( thereafter swinging said arms as a unit aboul said pivot.

5. An article transfer mechanism comprising z carriage, means for rotating it horizontally abou an axis, an arm on the carriage extending radi ally thereof and mounted to swing about a hori zontal pivot at the inner end of the arm, a1 article holder slidably mounted in said arm fo up and down movement when said arm is in hori zontal position, a second arm mounted to swin; about said pivot and operatively connected t said holder, means for swinging said second arn and inwardlyabout'said pivot; g

-6. An article transfer mechanism comprising a carriage, means for rotating ithorizontally about anxaxis; an-arm on the carriage extending radi-l allyz thereof and mounted to swing about a horizontalfpivet at the inner `end of the` arm, an

article holdercslidably `mounted in said arm for,

up and down movement when said' arm is in horizontal position, a second arm mounted to vswing about said pivot and operatively connected to said i holder, means for swinging said second arm; about its pivot for moving said holder downward, and meansforswinging both said arms as a unit and thereby swinging the said holder'downwardly and inwardly about said pivot, said means for swinging' said arms comprising; gears on said arms,

racks meshing with saidgears, andcam means for actuating said racks.

--7.2An articletransfer mechanism comprising acarriage, means for rotating it about a vertical axis,'an annular series of article gripping devices mounted onthecarriage, air operated piston motors individual to said gripping devices, `means providing operating connections between-the motcrs1and gripping devices, means for supplying air-under pressure to said motors in v,succession including.' a stationary,A annular air pressure chamber concentric with the axis of the carriage,v

air lines individual to the motors yand' extending from, said chamber, and meansfor opening said airlines in succession to said chamber.

8.y An article transfer mechanism comprising a carriage'mountedfor rotation about a-vertical axis, means for driving the carriage, said car,- riageincluding a horizontal table, an annular series of article gripping unitsmounte'd on the table, each said unit includinga horizontally disposed carrier pivoted to the table forhorizontal swinging movement and a pair of gripping lim gers ,pivoted on the carrier, each said unit includ;

inga pistonvmotor, means providing opera-ting? aboutits pivot for moving said holder downward, andmeans'for swinging both saidlarms as a unit; and thereby swinging theV said holder downwardly connections between: lthe motor: pistons and the fingers for swinging the latter about theirpivotsl, astationary cam,rand` means actuated thereby for swinging said carriers about their pivots.

`9. An articleftransfer mechanism :comprising a; carriage mounted for lrotationabout a vertical@` axis; meanswfcr driving thel carriage, saidcar: riageincludinga horizontal table, anwannular series of article grippingl unitsmounted onlthe table, geach said unit including arhorizontally-'disposed, carrierpivoted to the table-for horizontal swinging movement and a pairof grippingingers pivoted on,v the carrier,` each 'said unit including a pistontrn'otor; means providing operating coni l nections between the motor pistons and thenigers for-swinging` the latter about ltheir pivots, and-a stationary cam plate formed with a closed cam track,each said grippingA unit comprising acamfollower-rollmcunted on therpivot of one ofA said fingers and running on isaid cam track.

=10. An article transfer mechanism including an article. holderrcomprising a pain of oppositely disposed' arms, article holding'plate'slmounted on said arms, a head in which said arms are slidablyA y mounted for-movement toward-and fromeach other, said headincluding a bottom` supporting plate for supporting the articles, a stem attached to saidhead, and-a pinion on said stem, said'arms being formed with rack teeth" in mesh: withlsady pinion. n

11. An artidetransfer mechanism includingran article holder comprising a pair of oppositely-disposed arms, article holding plates mountedfon' saidlarms,1a hea'd in whichl said arms are slidably mounted `for movement toward `and fromeach other, said head :including a :bottom supporting plateforsupporting the articles, a stem attached' to said head, a jrock arm formingazcarrier for said holder, said stemfbeing slidably mounted for lengthwise movement in said rock arm, andfauto-` matic4 means forsliding said stem insaid' rock arm;

CARL w. SCHREIBER. 

